DOVER — The Dover School District is requesting 5.5 new debt-service mills through 2043 and a seven-year extension of the existing 15.3 debt mills in order to fund school renovations.

“There’s a great need for improvements,” Superintendent Jerry Owens said. “The middle school was built in the 1950s. Right now, students have to go outside, cross a school road and walk about 400 yards for P.E. class. They have to walk outside about 200 yards to get to the cafeteria, even in bad weather. It’s a safety issue.”

“The middle school doesn’t currently have a tornado shelter,” Owens said. “The FEMA-approved safe room would be rated for an F4 tornado with winds of up to 250 miles per hour. If we have a tornado alarm now, the students just get under their desks with their hands covering their heads.”

He said the benefits of the renovation project go beyond safety.

“It is critical to have good facilities in order to be competitive in the age of school choice,” Owens said. “We have to stay progressive and offer kids the best possible education we can give them. To do that, we need quality educators. New facilities tend to attract quality teachers and coaches.”

Owens said if the millage passes, construction would likely begin in the spring of 2014 and be complete by Aug. 1, 2015.

“The goal would be to have the new facility complete before the start of the 2015 school year,” he said.

Early voting began Tuesday and continues until Sept. 16 at Pope County Election Headquarters in Russellville. Polls will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Polls will be open on Election Day, Sept. 17, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Dover First Baptist Church.

For more information about the renovation project, call Owens at (479) 331-2916.